St Annes Old Links - Lancashire - England

St Annes Old Links sits amongst distinguished guests along England's North West coast. It holds its own.

However, this is a different type of course compared to some of the big names in this part of the country. It is flatter and more expansive than its neighbours but is still a true test of your game and must be respected.

Like all links courses the wind can have a huge impact on the way a course plays. The routing of St. Annes Old Links does consist of 'two loops' of nine, bringing you back to the clubhouse at the halfway stage (more on that later) but many of the holes run in a similar direction, therefore, you are often faced with the same wind direction on a lot of the holes. The course has four par 3's and it is mostly these that run in a different direction to the longer holes.

I wasn't a huge fan of St. Annes Old Links when I played it for the first time over two decades ago. Over the years I've become more impressed with it after each visit and always look forward to my next round. There are some really well placed bunkers and you need to think your way round the course at times. It offers much to ponder whilst walking between shots. Trains regularly pass down the side of the 17th and 18th at regular intervals whilst a flurry of planes landing and taking off from bordering Blackpool airport can be seen. The backdrop of Blackpool Tower and the Big Dipper are visible on most of the holes too.

The main downside for me (even most of the best courses have one) is that on some of the holes you can be better off wider of the (well placed) fairway bunkers. Miss the hazards and you usually have a shot from the rough or an adjacent fairway. I suspect for national championships, of which the course hosts many, the rough will be more exacting but the fundamental principal remains the same.

The lack of sea views, huge dunes and rolling fairways may not appeal to some, others may not like the openness of looking across several fairways and a few may not appreciate the subtleties of the greens, however, as a test of golf it will examine every sinew of your game. Lovers of true links golf understand St. Annes Old Links.

Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.

This review is not adjusted for value for money, which is undeniable in this mostly over priced area.

This is an honest old links course that is mostly flat, true running with firm greens that you can putt to from almost anywhere.

Nice 2 9's out and back layout with a stand out hole (9) that is as good as sadly it is out of character from the rest of the flattish course.

Good, honest, old style, unspectacular links golf well worth a game if you like this sort of thing (which I do!).

St Annes is a decent, honest links course set over some fairly flat land. It has some special holes, namely 9 & 10 that play in an around some heavy dunes and the long finishing holes will test you. All of the par 3s were very good but to be honest I can't recall a lot of the par 4s and I played last week. I know I didn't have any issues with conditioning, greens or design and I certainly didn't have any issues with price. Expecting to pay the advertised 50pd afternoon rate I instead got the half price, unadvertised twilight rate, an hour early. Many thanks to the pro who suggested this. So for VFM, as per the argument below, SAOL is a 7 baller along with Kings Links in Aberdeen which was 8pds and Birkdale is stripped back to 3 balls, but I don't consider cost so a strong 4 balls. The course is a rugged little course, kind of reminded me a bit of Panmure but not quite as gnarly or interesting. Warren from Australia

Played here with a group of 9 visiting golfers in late Sept 2013. Made to feel very welcome both in the clubhouse and on the course. The course was in excellent condition. Good fast greens and rough not too punishing for higher handicap players hence did not need to spend hours looking for lost balls as one can sometimes do on other links courses. The view is not pretty but the golf is very good. Price is one third of the nearby open courses and less that half of Hillside and S and A. If you are a single figure golfer you might appreciate the sterner challenge of the more expensive courses but for most average golfers I would thoroughly recommend a round at The Old links .

I played here on a perfect sunny/breezy day in July 2012, with a very friendly member (thanks, John!), several days after Open qualifying had taken place. I find it hard to believe that the Old Links are not ranked among England's top 100. Though the the course is rather flat as noted, it required strong shot-making in order to score well and the rather penal rough (a function of both recent rain and the set-up for the aforementioned Open qualifying) put a premium on accurate driving. Course conditioning was top rate and the green fee was quite reasonable. Many strong holes, with the par3 #9 especially memorable and well-designed. Committed players might want to consider palying this course and Royal Lytham as part of a 36 hole day, as the courses are quite close to one another. Friendly staff (thanks Ann!) as well.

Played here 16th Feb as part of the winter 4 ball deal, which is fantastic value by the way. The first point I must make is that the welcome from the pro shop and the clubhouse staff is first class. The course is pretty much a flat pancake which is pretty open too (i'm sure they grow the rough up in summer) but if graded as we played it there isn't too much to worry yourself about off the tee. The fairways were superb and the greens ran very true considering the recent weather and the time of year. Some good holes, the 9th as every says is a great hole, and with two par 5's to finish with it gives the opportunity of birdies. Great value well worth a visit.

Played this course on Friday 13th January 2012. Considering the weather we have had recently, I can only describe the course as awesome. dry as bone everywhere. Perfect fairways greens had been recently tined but you could tell they will be fast when it gets warmer. Why is this course only 120th? Played loads of top 100 courses over the last 12 months and not many were as good as this. I can see why its the venue for the 2012 final Open qualifying. Well worth a visit

Well what better way to start 2010, than driving from Leeds to Blackpool to tee off at 11am (dedication at its best!!). I'm glad I did however as I had a great day! I was very surprised that the course was even open let alone it not be on frost greens. I have to say though the greens were rock solid which made chipping onto them extremely hard to impossible. However once on the putting surface they ran very true. The best hole on the course for me was the 9th, a par 3, boat shaped green, hole, that has you aiming towards an architecturally pleasing club house. The front 9 holes are nice but aren’t anything special, the back 9 holes however were great and demanded accuracy. My highlight of the round was when both my playing partner and I drove the green of a 354 yd par 4. I have awarded 4 balls to this course mainly due to the conditions whilst I played, you can’t get a true feeling for the course whilst it’s like concrete in places. I also think that the front 9 holes were just average and although the back 9 were great it’s the whole 18 holes that count. The pro shop wasn’t anything to shout about either; the club house looked great however non members didn’t go anywhere near this which was a shame. All in all though I think the course is worth the money and I’m looking forward to returning in the summer where I will provide another (hopefully better scoring) review.

Played this course on a freezing cold new years day 2010. After the recent cold snap me and my mate were desperate to play a decent course that was open. I have to say that it was well worth the trip. We were really surprised to be able to play on the greens despite the obvious frost. Fairways were too hard to get a decent divot, but that didn't bother me as I was generally on the first or second cut of rough. Yes the views are mundane at times but that just makes you concentrate on the course. First 2 are bog standard par 4's. 3rd is a really quirky short par 3, with a green cocooned by houses. 9th is very special with it's boat shaped green. In fact the back 9 was all very enjoyable. Highlight of the day had to be when we both drove a 354 yard par 4. Admittedly this was Down wind and with really firm fairways but it wasn't that windy and still goes down in the long driving annals. Have given course 4 balls with 2 balls lost due to scenary, club-house, and slightly mundane first 9. Not in the same class as some of the other courses I have given 6 balls (Silloth, Saunton East, Fulford, Marriot St-Pierre, Leven Links, Moor Allerton (in summer) but well worth the green-fee and I would rate it at a similar level to Moortown. Shab.

Played here on a very windy Friday afternoon in May. The course was absoloutely fantastic with the tee's and fairways being easily the best I have ever played on, the bunkers were plentiful but easy to play from. If you stray off line the ball can be found easily enough in the rough but expect to be hacking a lofted club less than fifty yards!The greens deserve special mention, faultless surface like carpets, quick and confidence inspiring. Read the line and roll the ball towards the hole, no bobbles, no difference in pace, just true and a wonderful experience.The course is fairly flat and open but there is enough definition to make each hole feel different and varied.The only thing that lets the course down for me is the surrounding area, unless you love looking at the pleasure beach, surrounding houses and the airport there is not much in the way of scenery. Shame, because the course itself is great and far better that alot of the courses ranked higher on this site.The staff were very friendly and when I am next in the area I will definately going back.